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Keeping Minnesota stormwater (and our rivers and lakes) clean






"October, 2025"

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New MS4 permit resources

stenciled storm drain

The MPCA Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program developed the "MS4 Implementation Guide" to assist MS4 permittees in complying with the MS4 General Permit Minimum Control Measures (MCM) 1-6 permit requirements. This guidance package includes resources like example educational materials, written procedure templates, documentation templates, and model ordinances to support a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP).

The MS4 Implementation Guide is available here:* MS4 Implementation Guide [ [link removed] ]*

Additional MS4 guidance and resources can be found on the *Minnesota Stormwater Manual MS4 home page [ [link removed](MS4) ]*

Please contact your assigned *MPCA MS4 staff [ [link removed] ] *for questions.



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*New Stormwater Manual website to go live in October!*

Stormwater Manual

The online "Minnesota Stormwater Manual [ [link removed] ]" provides information about how to comply with Construction Stormwater and Municipal Stormwater (MS4) permits as well as providing information on how to keep stormwater clean. The stormwater manual wiki site will be decommissioned in October.

When this happens, the current URL for the manual ([link removed]) will be reassigned to the *new* stormwater manual website. The target date for this change is October 9th. 

As part of this effort, each page needs to be re-formatted to the new platform. All the manual pages will be available immediately. But there will be a time period where some of the pages are still in the old format and may not display properly. The MPCA will provide updates on the wiki home page as the switch date approaches.

When the switch occurs, stormwater manual content will no longer be available in the wiki format. The new platform offers improved accessibility and consistency with other MPCA websites.

_Watch for training opportunities_: MPCA staff will be scheduling several webinars in October and November to provide orientation to the new manual format, content, and resources.



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Industrial Stormwater application update

Industrial Stormwater 1

The MPCA is continuing to work towards completing the updates to the Industrial Stormwater application services. The general permit and no exposure application service remains unavailable. The MPCA anticipates the service will be available in the coming months. Please watch for news about the application service on the Industrial Stormwater program’s webpage [ [link removed] ], via GovDelivery [ [link removed] ] messages, or reach out to Industrial Stormwater staff [ [link removed] ]. Applicants should plan to apply for permit coverage or no exposure certification as soon as the application service becomes available.

We encourage permittees to use this time to prepare for meeting the requirements of the reissued 2025-2030 Industrial Stormwater General Permit. Permittees must complete all necessary changes to a facility’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) prior to applying for permit coverage. Permittees should evaluate benchmark monitoring locations to determine if they’ve been correctly identified and properly placed to collect representative samples of runoff. Facilities with a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code listed in the permit’s Appendix D must prepare for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) monitoring. This includes, but isn’t limited to, completing a PFAS monitoring plan and identifying the facility’s Area(s) of Concern (AOC) locations for PFAS. The 2025-2030 permit can be found on the Industrial Stormwater Program's webpage here: [link removed]



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Keeping dirt off the streets

dirt on street

The NPDES/SDS Construction Stormwater General Permit requires vehicle tracking Best Management Practices (BMPs) [ [link removed] ] to be installed anywhere sediment can track out from the construction site or onto paved roads within the site.

Vehicle tracking BMPs must be installed in all these areas whether or not construction vehicles or residential traffic will be using these entrances/exits. If a road is fully closed to all traffic and no vehicles can exit, there is no need for a vehicle tracking BMP.

In addition to vehicle tracking BMPs, street sweeping is often required to help prevent sediment tracking onto the street. However, street sweeping alone can not be used as a vehicle tracking BMP—it must be used in conjunction with an established vehicle tracking BMP.



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*Stormwater pretreatment study*

Pretreatment screen

Stormwater ponds and other stormwater treatment practices function best and for longer periods of time when they include a pretreatment structure. A  pretreatment structure is a designated pool, sump, chamber, or other area that captures coarse sediment, larger particles, and trash that can fill up a stormwater pond too quickly.

We know little about how to best design pretreatment structures to reduce maintenance costs. However, a new project by the University of Minnesota will study how to design stormwater pretreatment systems to save pond managers time and money while keeping the water clean.

Researchers are looking for data from past or upcoming clean-outs. If you might have data to inform this project, reach out to John Chapman at [email protected]. 



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Clean Sweep Program planning resources

clean street

The Clean Sweep Program has released two new resources to assist with stormwater planning:


* New Planning Guide [ [link removed] ] – Developing an Enhanced Street Sweeping Plan
* Updated Quick Estimating Tool [ [link removed] ] – now with tailored calculations for enhanced sweeping to help you estimate cost of enhanced street sweeping, total mass of street sweeping materials, potential phosphorus removal credits, and staff time needed

The program plans to host virtual trainings for the tools this fall.

"Looking for more resources and training to get you started? " Presentations and materials can be found on the Clean Sweep Program website [ [link removed] ].



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Smart Salting trainings available

Smart Salting logo_boot_updated

The MPCA Smart Salting Training program partners with organizations across the state to host trainings. The winter maintenance trainings integrate science with practical strategies that save money, time, and environmental impacts by reducing salt use while keeping paved surfaces safe. The following trainings are open to the appropriate audiences and meet MS4 annual winter maintenance training requirements. For groups of 12 or more, consider hosting your own training and contact [email protected].

For details on trainings visit the Smart Salting Trainings page [ [link removed] ].



*Smart Salting trainings:*

*Roads certification *– City, county and private plow drivers that maintain roads.

October 8, Backus – Register [ [link removed] ]

October 15, Bemidji - Register [ [link removed] ]

October 23, Grand Rapids – Register [ [link removed] ]

October 28, online - Register [ [link removed] ]

*Parking lots & Sidewalks certification* – Parks, private contractors and winter maintenance

October 14, Minneapolis – Register [ [link removed] ]

October 22, online – Register [ [link removed] ]

November 19, Forest Lake - Register [ [link removed] ]

*Property Managers certification*– Property managers, winter maintenance managers, environmental professionals, MS4 permit staff.

October 7, online - Register [ [link removed] ]

November 12, online – Register [ [link removed] ]

December 10, online - Register [ [link removed] ]

*Smart Salting Refreshers* - for those currently Smart Salting certified only – Dive into a specific aspects of winter maintenance and meet MS4 annual winter maintenance training requirements.

Liquid Deicer - October 30, online – Register [ [link removed] ]

Salt & Snow Storage - November 20, online – Register [ [link removed] ]






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Industrial Stormwater courses from the University of Minnesota

This October, the University of Minnesota (UMN) Erosion and Stormwater Management Program is offering two *_in-person_* *industrial** **stormwater** training **courses* that meet the ISW permit training requirement.* *Both courses will allow ample time for group discussions and questions/answers.

Industrial stormwater captured at Valmont Industries, a metal fabricating facility in Farmington, MN

_For people who are *new* to the__ __Industrial__ __Stormwater__ __permit _or would like a detailed refresher of the industrial stormwater requirements, the UMN Erosion Program offers Course # _ISW 2202_. The course topics include no exposure, SWPPP development and implementation, stormwater sampling and monitoring, laboratory selection, inspections, SWPPP modification, and annual training requirements. The in-person training will take place at the MnDOT Arden Hills training facility on October 29th from 9:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. The course cost is $230 and includes breakfast rolls, lunch, and printed materials. Learn more and register for *ISW 2202- section 532* at [link removed]

_For people who are familiar with the __Industrial__ __Stormwater__ __Permit,_ the UMN Erosion Program offers Course # _ISW 1202_. This course reviews permit basics and provides information specific to the new 2025 permit. The in-person training will take place at the MnDOT Arden Hills training facility on October 22nd from 9 am – 11:30 am. The course cost is $50 and includes a continental breakfast and printed materials. Learn more and register for *ISW 1202 -* *section 521* at [link removed]

The UMN Erosion Program will also continue to offer both courses as on-demand, self-paced online classes. For more information about ISW online courses and other in-person and online courses offered by the UMN Erosion Program, visit [link removed]

For questions, contact the UMN Erosion Program at [email protected] or call 612-625-9733.

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Stormwater news briefs

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*MS4 General Permit reissuance update*

The MPCA Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program continues to work on the next MS4 General Permit. At this time, the MS4 program anticipates the draft permit for the informal pre-public notice will be available in late fall 2025. Further details about the MS4 General Permit reissuance process are available at the MS4 General Permit website [ [link removed] ].

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Army Corps asks for help with Minnesota River study

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be undertaking an updated flow-frequency analysis for the mainstem Minnesota River. They are looking for observations and data to inform their modeling efforts and improve the end product. They also want to inform stakeholders. If you’d like to help out, contact Karla Sparks, Program Manager, (651) 290-500 [email protected].

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*Join us for the Minnesota Stormwater Seminar Series [ [link removed] ]*

* October 9, 2025 featuring Roger Sutherland - Enhanced Street Sweeping [ [link removed] ]
* November 20, 2025 featuring Bill Selbig - Low-cost urban flood detection and warning network using Internet of Things                                                      
* December 18, 2025 featuring Greg LeFevre - contaminants of emerging concern

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Questions about stormwater?

MPCA municipal stormwater staff are available to answer questions about stormwater and your MS4 permit requirements. Click the button below to find staff contact information. 

*MS4 Staff Directory* [ [link removed] ]











Contact

If you have questions about or suggestions for this newsletter, contact:

 

Kevin Strauss

MPCA-Rochester

[email protected]

507-206-2624

 






The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is a state agency committed to ensuring that every Minnesotan has healthy air, sustainable lands, clean water, and a better climate.








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